Resilient wheel.



PATENTBD OCT. 2, 1906.

E. c. PERKINS. RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, '1906.

Eda/M62761 7Z6 [NVE/VTOB m A $05 E m A [TOR/VB Y5 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE;

EDWIN C. PERKINS, OF PRAIRIE DU SAC, WVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOHN KAUFMAN, OF PRAIRIE DU SAC, WISCONSIN.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

T0 at whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Prairie du Sac, in the county of Sauk and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and useful Resilient Wheel, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to wheels for wagons, automobiles,traction-engines, and other vehicles, and has for its object to providea strong, durable, and efiicient wheel of this character havingyieldable spokes, so as to prevent undue injury to the wheel intraveling over rough or uneven roads.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel in which thespokes, cushioning elements, and tread-surface are formed byradially-dis osed springs, the free ends of which over ap each other andform the periphery or tread-surface of the wheel.

A further object is to provide a wheel in which the several spokes areindependently mounted in the hub and provided with terminaltraction-lugs adapted to prevent slipping or sliding of the wheel.

A still further object is togenerally improve the class of devices so asto increase their utility and durability as well as reduce the cost ofmanufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of awheel constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of a portion of a wheel, illustrating a modified form of theinvention. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating a further modifiedconstruction, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation illustrating a stillfurther modifica- A tion.

hub, consisting of a pair of spaced plates or disks 5 and 6, spacedapart to receive the enlarged heads 7 of the spokes 8 and connectedtogether by transverse bolts or similar fastening devices 9, whichengage circular recesses 10, formed in the inclined or tapered edges ofthe spokeheads, as shown.

The inner plate or disk 5 is preferably formed with an integral flangeor extension 11, adapted to bear against the axle 12, while the outerplate 6 is provided with a similar flange 13 of less diameter than theflange 11 and adapted to bear against the spindle 14.

The spokes 8 are preferably formed of spring metal and extend radiallyfrom the hub, as shown, said spokes being independently mounted in thehub and having their free ends curved laterally at 15 to form theperiphery or tread-surface of the wheel, as indicated at 16. The curvedor deflected end of each spoke is provided with a recess or depression17, adapted to receive the curved or rounded face 18 of the adjacentspoke, so that when the several spokes are in position the free endsthereof will overlap each other and form, in effect, a continuoustread-surface, as shown. The free ends of the spokes are formed withlaterally-projecting traction spurs or lugs 19, which extendtransversely across the tread-surface of the wheel and serve to preventthe wheel from slipping or sliding when traveling over wet or muddyroads.

.By having the ends of the spokes overlapping each other, as shown, theuse of a separate tire is dispensed with, while the recesses ordepressions 17 permit the free ends of the spokes to lie flush with eachother, and thus present a practically smooth and continuoustread-surface. It will thus be seen that as the wheel revolves theweight of the vehicle will successively depress the several spokes andthereby yieldably support the vehiclebody, thus dispensing with use ofbolstersprings and also preventing undue injury to the wheel.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings there is illustrated a modified form of theinvention, in which the terminal traction lugs or spurs are dispensedwith, this form of the device being particularly designed for carriageor wagon wheels. In Fig. 4 there is shown a further modification, inwhich the ends of the resilient spokes are concaved at 20 to receive theconvex portion of the adjacent spoke, while in Fig. 5 the free ordeflected ends of the spokes are made relatively thin and long, so as tooverlap each other without the use of the seating depressions shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

It will of course be understood that the Wheels may be constructed indifferent sizes and that the width and strength of the s okes both atthe hub and tread-surface wil depend upon the weight to be sustained, Itwill also be understood that the lap of the springsat the tread-surfaceof the wheel may be varied according to the style of the wheel and theuse for which it is designed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- I 1. A wheelhaving the spokes thereof extended to form a tread-surface, said spokesbeing provided with recesses for the reception of the ends of theadjacent spokes.

2. A resilient wheel comprising a hub, and spokes secured to the hub andhaving their free ends extended laterally and each proin the presence oftwo witnesses.

EDWIN O. PERKINS. Witnesses:

J. S. TRIPP, C. I. KINDSCHI.

vided with a recess for the reception of the

